December 28, 2008, Atlanta Journal Constitution.
A 700 pound bronze statue of Major General Patrick Cleburne is still in a warehouse under plastic wrap. It is hoped that its erection in Ringgold, Georgia, will help bring tourism and money.
The paper reports that most people in the area had never heard of him.
It almost wasn't completed because the organizations who wanted it couldn't come up with enough money to pay the sculptor.
general Cleburne was at Ringgold on November 27, 1863 when Confederates retreating in disorder from Chattanooga came through. Cleburne and about 4,100 of his troops fought off 12,000 Union troops and allowed the main Confederate body to pass through.
He was killed at the Battle of Franklin in November 1864 at the age of 36. Until recently, he was not well known, but a book about him is spreading the word.
$50,000 SHORT
The Ringgold people were $50,000 short and sculptor Ron Tanison, who makes Civil War statues across the country, warned that the project would be scrapped if he was not paid in full.
The Ringgold telephone Company stepped in with the needed funds.
The organizers realize that putting up a statue in today's anti-Confederate sentiment might cause some controversy because of the slavery issue. Earlier this year, Ringgold's small black community objected to the Confederate flag flying over the depot and it was taken down.
I see that the dedication ceremony did occur October 29, 2009, so next time through, I will stop and view this statue that almost wasn't.
The Stonewall of the West. --B-Runner
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